slappybrown wrote:Does Werner's tweet mean Pitt never contemplated he would change his mind after he requested the transfer and so are now surprised he is interested in a return, or does it mean that Pitt has already made its decision and gave no consideration to him returning once they heard he was interested in coming back?

This was his first tweet, so your second comment.

Sam Werner ‏@SWernerPG 1h

Former running back Rushel Shell will not be returning to #Pitt, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

I don't think so. Pitt granted his transfer request subject to certain conditions -- ie, that he not transfer to XYZ. I don't know that refusing to let him back to Pitt would somehow alter those terms if they have moved on.

His options, assuming he changed his mind due to his family situation:

Drop down a level and play right away at Duquesne or a similar schoolTry to convince OSU or PSU to take him (doubtful)Try to convince Pitt to waive its prohibition on his going to WVU (not to re-hash that, but did we determine WVU was on the list?)

If his teammates and his coach didn't want him back I support that 100%. Guy burned alot of bridges and it sounds like those in the coaching staff and in the locker room didn't feel they could trust him. Can't say I blame them.

One person does not need to be bigger than the program. I like how Chryst runs his ship.

ExPatriatePen wrote:So, if Pitt won't take him back. That means that they can't dictate where he goes anymore right? He could wind up at an ACC school now for instance.

I don't think so, he never enrolled at UCLA or took part in any practices. Certainly, that would be an easy way for any player to game the system.

But the school (Pitt) took it out of the players hands. As long as he was welcome to play at Pitt, I can see the school having a say, but once the school closes the door on him there, the player should be free to go ANYWHERE.

He has all the talent in the world, but will his immaturity ultimately destroy his career? I say let him him go wherever he wants, this is a guy that could be an NFL #1, or end up being top ten in the "what if'" discussions.

ExPatriatePen wrote:So, if Pitt won't take him back. That means that they can't dictate where he goes anymore right? He could wind up at an ACC school now for instance.

I don't think so, he never enrolled at UCLA or took part in any practices. Certainly, that would be an easy way for any player to game the system.

But the school (Pitt) took it out of the players hands. As long as he was welcome to play at Pitt, I can see the school having a say, but once the school closes the door on him there, the player should be free to go ANYWHERE.

JMHO

Ok, so if Shell wants to go to ASU and Pitt blocks him from doing so, all he needs to do is say he's going to UCLA and then backtrack? You don't see the issue with that as it relates to the current system of transfers?

The transfer system is ridiculous, but as it stands right now that can't happen.

I don't think it's realistic for a school to take back a player two months after he has quit, already decided to transfer, named his destination, and then handed in his transfer request papers. So in practice, I don't think what you suggest is anything more than gaming the system.

The rules are ridiculously broken, but that is a separate conversation.

And Pitt has never stopped Shell from going anywhere (except for the Pitt football team now). He'd have to pay his way for one year, which is probably unpalatable, but it's not exactly the barrier that everyone makes it out to be.

ulf wrote:Seems like an easy way out of the restricted travel services deal.

Well... I think the restricted thing is way out of hand anyway.

These guys aren't indentured servants, they're student-atheletes.

The school gave him a scholarship for 2011-2012, he played for them in the fall of 2011. Done.

Why ANY school should be able to dictate where a kid goes after that is beyond me...

As pfim mentioned, it's realy only an issue for the kids "without means" anyway.

Because they counted on him to be a part of their team, and used a scholarship on him that could have went to someone else. Plus as you mention, they're not stopping him from going anywhere. He can work and save up some money if he wishes to go anywhere he wants.

No issues whatsoever with Chryst's decision regarding Shell. One of the former contributors to the PittBlather blog who had regular access to the team last year posted in some of the recent threads that, in so many words, the kid has been a ******* since the day he set foot on campus. This apparently was not a situation of a player angling for a second or even third chance; Shell was pretty much on chance #5 or #6. A lot came to a head with him and the program (coaches and teammates) during the spring, and that was that.

As far as Shell goes, I have a hard time having any sympathy for him as a "kid". Yes, 19-year olds make mistakes. We all did when we were that age. But there are plenty of "kids" his age who are mature enough to make much tougher life decisions - enlisting in the military, for example. Even within the context of "kids" gifted enough to find opportunities within Division I collegiate sports, he could learn a thing or five from new Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas, who ironically started opposite Shell just this past fall.

It's awesome that criminal incidents that are outside the jurisdiction of the NCAA are punished 1000x more severely than actual NCAA violations that give a team a significant competitive advantage on the field. Long live Emmert.

After a 27-month investigation into alleged recruiting rules violations committed during Kelly's successful tenure at Oregon, the NCAA infractions committee did nothing more than slap the Ducks on the wrist, placing them on three years' probation and taking away a total of three scholarships.

So much for NCAA president Mark Emmert's promise that college sport's governing body would get tougher with rule breakers.

It's clear the NCAA's enforcement division is now working with both arms tied behind its back. At a time when the NCAA's investigative tactics have been questioned because of its unscrupulous methods in the Miami case, and as some of its most seasoned and effective investigators have jumped ship, the NCAA failed to deliver a message to rule breakers Wednesday.

For the past few years, NCAA officials have promised to clean up the recruiting world and eliminate the influence of shady third parties like Willie Lyles, a middleman from Texas who helped steer former star running back LaMichael James and current Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk to Oregon. Presented with the chance to do it Wednesday, the NCAA balked.